Biomass – As a renewable energy source, biomass is biological material from living, or recently living organisms (Biomass Energy Centre, 2011). For EIP reporting purposes, biomass is the byproduct of fuels reduction treatment projects in the Tahoe Basin.

Utilization – An alternative use of woody biomass as opposed to pile burning. Facilities utilize biomass material from the Tahoe Basin for generating thermal and electrical energy, creating landscape materials such as compost and mulch, creating composite panels, and for use in soil restoration activities.

Green Ton – Traditional unit of measure used by industries that utilize biomass as a primary raw material. One green ton (GT) is 2,000 pounds of biomass (usually in chip form) with no correction for moisture content.

Prescribed burning – Reduces fuels by burning them on-site. Pile burning is used on steep slopes and where machines are prohibited. Broadcast burning is use to remove material left by chipping and mastication. Understory burning is used to mimic the historic process of low-intensity fire to restore forest health. See the Acres of Forest Fuels Reduction Treatment PM Information Sheet. 

Biomass utilization accomplishments are reported after the sale and transfer to biomass facilities occurs. This information should be entered into the EIP Database by the implementing agency’s project manager within 30 days of completing each biomass transaction with a facility. All biomass utilization transactions should be entered into the EIP Database by the implementing entity’s reporting manager by December 31st of that year. EIP managers will start compiling reported data in October and will continue through December each year. Any information reported after December 31st will not be included in that year’s reporting totals.